Watch — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈwäch/

Meaning & Definition of Watch

Watch (verb)

  1. to keep vigil as a devotional exercise
  2. to be awake during the night
  3. to be attentive or vigilant

Watch (noun)

  1. the act of keeping awake to guard, protect, or attend
  2. the state of being wakeful
  3. a wake over a dead body

Watch (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to keep one's eyes on

    "I turned my head to continue watching the bird as it flew away"

    similar: eye, follow, observe, have one's eye on
    related: behold, look, perceive, regard, see, view, gape, gawk, gaze, glare, goggle, look on, peer, rubberneck, stare, guard, wake, ward, bird-dog, monitor, study, spy, espy, glance, glimpse, peek, peep
    near: blink, wink

  2. to take notice of and be guided by

    "watch what I do when I run into that kind of problem"

    similar: follow, heed, listen (to), mind, note, observe, regard
    related: consider, contemplate, mull, ponder, weigh, comply (with), conform (to), keep, obey, respect, attend (to), hark (to), hear, hearken (to), mark, notice, see
    opposite: disregard, ignore, tune out
    near: brush (aside or off), discount, dismiss, gloss (over), gloze (over), neglect, pass over, pooh-pooh, scorn, shrug off, defy, flout, slight, snub

  3. to pay continued close attention to (something) for a particular purpose

    "watched the situation to see if it improved"

    similar: cover, monitor, keep an eye on
    related: surveil, eye, behold, espy, look, note, notice, observe, regard, see, sight, spy, view, witness, gape, gawk, gaze, glare, goggle, peer, rubberneck, stare, glance, glimpse, peek, peep

  4. to have an interest or concern for

    "you should watch what you eat if you want a long, healthy life"

    similar: care, look out (for), mind
    related: attend, heed, regard, note, notice, observe, empathize (with), feel (for), sympathize (with)
    near: disregard, ignore, overlook

  5. to take charge of especially on behalf of another

    "hired a high school girl to watch their daughter until they got home from work"

    similar: attend, care (for), mind, oversee, superintend, supervise, tend, look after, see after, see to, take care of
    related: administrate, conduct, control, direct, govern, guide, manage, operate, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, guard, patrol, protect, safeguard, shield, baby, babysit, chaperone, mother, shepherd
    near: abandon, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, pass over

Watch (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person or group that watches over someone or something

    "the neighborhood crime watch"

    similar: custodian, guard, guardian, keeper, lookout, minder, picket, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watcher, watchman
    related: observer, patrol, spotter, surveillant, watchdog, bodyguard, convoy, defender, escort, honor guard, gatekeeper, hack (slang)

  2. the state of being constantly attentive and responsive to signs of activity, opportunity, or danger

    "kept a watch over the sick baby"

    similar: alert, alertness, attentiveness, qui vive, red alert, vigilance, watchfulness
    related: aliveness, awareness, consciousness, mindfulness, receptiveness, receptivity, sensitivity, care, carefulness, cautiousness, chariness, heedfulness, wariness, preparation, readiness
    near: absentmindedness, abstraction, daydreaming, daze, distraction, absorption, engrossment, obliviousness, preoccupation, unawareness, unconsciousness, carelessness, heedlessness, inattention, inattentiveness, inobservance, unwariness

  3. an act or period of watching for signs of activity, danger, or opportunity

    "the little boy kept watch at the window for signs of Santa and his sleigh"

    similar: lookout, surveillance, vigil
    related: observance, observation, supervision, inspection, scrutiny

Related Entry: Watch (for) (verb)

Watch (for) is a different word from Watch. The synonyms below are for watch (for), not for watch.

  1. to believe in the future occurrence of (something)

    "watch for all the latest news on this Web site"

    similar: anticipate, await, expect, hope (for), look for, look forward to
    related: bank on, count (on or upon), depend (on or upon), rely (on or upon), wait (for), envisage, envision, foresee, foretell, predict, prophesy, assume, presume, presuppose, contemplate, eye, view
    near: doubt, question

Related Entry: Watch out (for) (verb)

Watch out (for) is a different word from Watch. The synonyms below are for watch out (for), not for watch.

  1. to be cautious of or on guard against

    "watch out for hazards in the road"

    similar: beware (of), guard (against), look out (for), mind, ware, be on the lookout for, keep one's eyes open for
    related: attend, heed, mark, note, notice, behold, discern, observe, perceive, see, watch
    near: discount, disregard, ignore, miss, overlook

Related Entry: Watch over (phrase)

Watch over is a different word from Watch. The synonyms below are for watch over, not for watch.

  1. to be in charge of

    "Her promotion meant she was now responsible for watching over the entire team of designers."

    similar: boss, captain, handle, head, overlook, oversee, quarterback, superintend, supervise, call the shots (of), call the tune (for), ride herd on
    related: administer, command, control, direct, guide, manage, order, run, shepherd, show, steer, monitor, preside (over), govern, reign, rule

  2. to look after and make decisions about

    "It was the legal guardian's job to watch over the children."

    similar: administer, administrate, carry on, conduct, control, direct, govern, guide, handle, keep, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tend
    related: care (for), mind, watch, lead, pilot, steer, guard, protect, safeguard, micromanage, stage-manage, codirect, comanage

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Watch

The most common words with a similar meaning to Watch:

eye, follow, observe, heed, listen (to), mind, note, regard, cover, monitor, care, look out (for), attend, care (for), oversee, superintend, supervise, tend, have one's eye on, keep an eye on, look after, see after, see to, take care of, custodian, guard, guardian, keeper, lookout, minder, picket, sentinel, sentry, warden, warder, watcher, watchman, alert, alertness, attentiveness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Watch

Words with the opposite meaning of Watch:

disregard, ignore, tune out

Related Words for Watch

behold, look, perceive, see, view, gape, gawk, gaze, glare, goggle, look on, peer, rubberneck, stare, wake, ward, bird-dog, study, spy, espy, glance, glimpse, peek, peep, consider, contemplate, mull, ponder, weigh, comply (with)

Near Antonyms of Watch

blink, wink, brush (aside or off), discount, dismiss, gloss (over), gloze (over), neglect, pass over, pooh-pooh, scorn, shrug off, defy, flout, slight, snub, overlook, abandon, forget, absentmindedness, abstraction, daydreaming, daze, distraction, absorption, engrossment, obliviousness, preoccupation, unawareness, unconsciousness

Word Forms of Watch

Inflections: watched, watching, watches

Origin & Etymology of Watch

Middle English wacchen, from Old English wæccan wake

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Watch

Words & Phrases Containing Watch

watch and ward, watch cap, watch case, watch fire, watch it, watch night, watch one's step, watch out

Frequently Asked Questions about Watch

What does "Watch" mean?

"Watch" means to keep vigil as a devotional exercise. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to keep vigil as a devotional exercise. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Watch"?

Other words for "Watch" include eye, follow, observe, heed, listen (to), mind, note and regard. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Watch" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Watch"?

There are 143 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Watch". Common alternatives include eye, follow, observe, heed, listen (to), mind, note, regard, cover and monitor.

What is the opposite of "Watch"?

Antonyms of "Watch" include disregard, ignore and tune out. Near antonyms include blink, wink, brush (aside or off) and discount.

How do you use "Watch" in a sentence?

Examples of "Watch" in a sentence: "I turned my head to continue watching the bird as it flew away"; "watch what I do when I run into that kind of problem"; "watched the situation to see if it improved".

Is "Watch" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Watch" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Watch" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Watch" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Watch"?

"Watch" is pronounced /ˈwäch/.